Jubilant Libyans living in New York whooped it up today after learning that iron-fisted strongman Moammar Khadafy had met his maker at the hands of rebellious countrymen.

“I’m shocked. I feel like I was born today. I was really happy because Libya captured him, not NATO. I didn’t want him to be killed by anyone other than Libyans,” said Hossam Harisha, 29, a Libyan living in Astoria and studying at NYU’s school of dentistry.

Harisha had returned to Libya when the rebellion broke out in February to help the rebels any way he could.

“I was with my family. I was trying to participate with the rebels, they needed support [and] I was helping give them first aid,” said Harisha, who returned to the States in June.

Anti-Khadafy fighters said the ousted leader was found hiding in a hole in the ground and had pathetically pleaded “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot” as rebels grabbed him, Reuters reported.

Within hours, the news spread like wildfire among the metropolitan area’s small community of Libyan expats.

Fellow dental student Noureddin Khazam, 30, a native of Tripoli living in the East Village, got the news from an overjoyed relative.

“My sister called me from Germany and said they captured Khadafy. I thought it was a rumor. It’s unbelievable. Everyone at school congratulated me. I still can’t believe it, I was so happy,” an elated Khazam exclaimed.

“The rebels are heroes!” he said. “We are talking about how to celebrate. One of my friends brought candy to the department [and] we’ll probably have a barbecue.”

Ashraf Elzer, 36, of Jersey City, another NYU grad student, said he and his Libyan friends were discussing Khadafy just a day earlier, and were convinced he’d fled the country.

“We are so happy, It’s amazing … we all thought he was out of Libya. I’m happy and excited. Finally, we killed Khadafy. This is history,” Elzer said.

Ahmed Elkhaweldi, 29, another NYU dental student, said he screamed and leapt from his bed when he heard.

“My family called me from Libya this morning and said ‘They got him!’ We were happy, screaming. I literally jumped out of the bed,” said Elkhaweldi. “We thought the guy would stay in charge forever. I’m thrilled.”

At the Libyan mission on West 48th Street yesterday, ambassador Ibrahim O. A. Dabbashi shared their joy and said the dictator’s death meant a brighter future for his country.

“When I got the news early in the morning it was really very comforting because I thought this was the best scenario we could expect. With the death of Khadafy the main threat has been eliminated,” he said.